Load-handling system



N. T. HARRINGTON. LOAD HANDLINGI'SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED,JAN 26 .,l92 0--- Patented Nov. 14,1922.

N. T. HARRINGTON.

LOAD HANDLING SYSTEM. APPLICATION H-LED JAN. 26. 1920.

1,435,605. Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

lmlm [min 1 mains" 51-11 13 I i 24mm ,2 I

N. T. HARRINGTON.

LOAD HANDLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED mmze, 1920.

L E 35,65. Patented Nov. M, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEEI 3- N. T. HARRINGTON. LOAD HANDLING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JAN.26. 1920.

Patented Nov. 14,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

nnrr FEQEO NORMAN T. HARRINGTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LOAD-HANDLING- SYSTEM.

Application filed January 26, 1920. Serial No. 354,123.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN T. I'IARRING- 'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Load- Handling Systems, of. which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to systems for handling loads, and has for its general ob ject to provide a system of this character which, while capable of operating efficiently over wide area, is relatively economical of installation, More limitedly, my invention relates to a system or apparatus embodying one or more pivoted towers, with a novel,

effective and economical means for counter balancing the tower or towers in the various positions which they may occupy wlth refer- .ence to their respectivesupports. Still further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings forming part hereof, Fig.

1 represents a side elevation of a lad-handling system embodying my invention; Fig. 2 an end elevation of one of the towers, the view corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of one of the tower bases and the counterweight, the tower and the counterweight being indicated in varying positions by dotted lines; Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the manner of locating the sheaves (or segments thereof) for the cables connecting the towers and their respective counterweights; Figs. 6 and 7 are details in elevation of the upper ends of the towers; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic elevation of the cables for rocking the towers and for operating the load-handling device; Fi 9 a )lan view of the cablewav and rocking cables; Fig. 10 a similar view of the bucket and carria e operating cables; Figs. 11 and 12 elev-.ions of the tower-rocking cables; and Fig. 13 a perspective detail of the counterweight and sheaves.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 and 1 denote a pair of towers, each mounted at its base upon horizontal pivot A pair of cables 3 are shown as connected to the foundation 4 on each side of each pivot f2 and equidistant therefrom, by

means of turnbuckles 5. Each cable extends over a segmental guide 6 (concentric with the pivot of its tower) and is connected with a drum 7 on the end of a shaft 8 carried by be unwrapped, whereby the joint eflectivc' length of each pair of cables will be constant. On the opposite end of each shaft 8 from the drum 7 is a gear 9 meshing with a pinion 10 on the end of a shaft 11. Mounted on eachvshaft 11 is a pair of drums indicated at 12 and 12 respectively, each pair constituting in effect a single drum. To these drums there are connected cables 13 and 13. These cables are secured at their opposite ends to a power drum la. The cable? 13 extend from said drum over sheaves mounted on a carriage 16 supported on a horizontal pivot 16 to which the tower guy 1'? is connected and thence over sheaves 18 to the drums The rocking cables 13" extend from the power drum over the sheaves 1.5 and thence over sheaves 19 and 20, at the tops of the two towers and to the drums 12. The horizontal pivot 16* for each guy 1? is in line with the tower pivots 2, whereby the effective lengths of the guys and of the rocking cables are not altered by reason of the rocking of the tower.

Secured to the upper end of each tower is a plate 21 to which the upper end of each guy is connected. Mounted in each plate is a pintle 22, 2%, the lower end of each piutle being journaled on a shaft 22 and the axis of the former pintle being parallel with the inclined parts of the cables 23, 23 28 and 23 which open, close and move the bucket 24. The cables 23-23 extend over sheaves 25, 25* which are pivoted upon the pintles 22, 22 The bucket carriage 26 is mounted upon a cableway 27 one end of which is connected to a. yoke 28 also pivoted upon the pintle 22 by a. support 28 while the other end is connected to a. tackle 29 and the fixed blocks 30 whereof are pivoted upon the pintle 22* by means of a support 30 The fall 130 of this tackle leads over a sheave 81 at the upper end of the tower l and thence to a drum or winch on the guy carriage 16 of said tower.

The bucket opening, closing and holding lines are operated by a drum The line 3 extends from said drum over one of the sheaves 15, thence over one of the sheaves and over the bucket operating sheaves 34.- and 85, and its opposite end is secured at 86. The line E23 extends from the same drum over one of the sheaves 15, thence over one of the sheaves 25, and over the bucket operating sheaves 34 and 35 and is secured at 36 The travel line 23 extends from a drum 37 over one of the sheaves 15, thence over one of the sheaves 25, under the carriage sheaves 37, over the sheave 25 and is secured to the carriage at 39. The other travel line 23 extends from 37 over one of the sheaves 15, and one of the sheaves-25 to the bucket carriage, where it is secured, as indicated at 40.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, by applying power to the drum d3, braced by the guys 43.

14., the towers with their interposed cableway and its load-handling device may be adjusted or rocked in unison to any desired angular extent without altering the lengths (and hence not effecting the supporting elliciency) of the guys 17. Also, because of: the manner 01 mounting the sheaves for the bucket-operating lines as well as the cableway, a fair lead is given to the bucket-handling lines or cables in all positions of the towers, the sheaves 25 and 25 being always in line with the cableway.

In connection with the system thus far described, I provide novel and effective means -for counterbalancing the towers and their load in the varying positions which they occupy with respect t their pivots under operating conditions. To each tower a moV- able counterweight is connected by means of a cable or other flexible connection, this cable extending over a sheave (or a segment thereof) on each side of a vertical line extending from a portion of the tower which is above its center of gravity when the tower is in a vertical position. The of each sheave (or segment) is so positioned that the efiiective lifting effort of the counterweight upon their towers and the load will vary with the effective load to be counterbalanced, thus enabling the towers to be rocked with a minimum expenditure of power and to remain in any position to which they may be moved or rocked and with a minimum amount of braking. In practice, it will be assumed that the counterweights are required to counterbalance the towers, cableway, bucket and half the live load within the latter. The manner in which the location of the axis'of each sheave (or sheave segment) is ascertained will be explained in connection with Figs. t and 5.

The counterweight for each tower is indicated at 41 and is guided in its vertical movements between uprights 42 supporting at their upper ends horizontal frame members Each counterweight is shown as connected to its tower at a point above the center of gravity of the tower and its load and preferably near the top thereof by means of a cable la which may be pivoted upon a pintle 45. Assume that the efi'ective weight of each tower and its proportion of the weight of the parts associated therewith (including one quarter of the maximum live load in the bucket) is H500 pounds and that it is desired to use with each tower a counterweight of 28400 pounds. Because of the sag of the cableway and the vertical room occupied by the bucket and itscarriage, the extreme operating angle of the towers with respect to the vertical will be about 60. Let the line a denote the central longitudinal axis of the tower, the lower end being pivoted at Q and Z) the point to which the cable at is connected. From the point I) drop a line 0 representing the load to be counterbalanced (say 1 4500 pounds). From the lower end of 0 describe an are which on the scale represented by 0 will correspond to 28400.v This are will intersect at at (Z. Draw the line 6 and, at the point 6, draw 7 parallel with e. The line f will be tangent to the sheave or segment for the counterweight cable. Repeat this operation for various angular positions of the line a. A curve tangent to all the i lines 7' on one side of the vertical line 9 will constitute the cable-supporting surface of the sheave or segment. This curve will theoretically be a spiral, but this spiral approximates a. segment of a circle with suflicient closeness to enable a circular sheave or segment to be used; and the axis of this sheave or segment may be determined by ascertaining the center it of a circle tangent,or substantially tangent to the lines 7 at their intersections Well as tangent to the line 9. These calculations will enable the opposite sheave or segment to be. located. In Fig. 4-. the sheave segments are represented at as and their centers or pivots at a7. The pivots are supported by the horizontal members *3. Each segment 46 has a track as thereon for the cable 44. In order to secure uniformity of movement of the segments by the cables 44: and prevent the counterweight, when elevated, from striking the same as the towers are rocked, the cable 4d is connected to the said segment in the manner shown in Fig. 13. Secured to the cable is a clip or anchor at. To this clip 'or anchor are secured the upper ends of cables 49, which are adapted to seat in grooves 50 of each segment. The lower end of the cables t9 are secured to projections 51 on the bottoms of the segments. By this connection, the rotation of either sheave segment by the cable will cause the other sheave segment to rock in unison therewith. From the diagram in Fig. 4, it will he understood that the lighter the counterweights, the

higher will be the centers or pivots for the sheaves 46 and that, the heavier the counter weights the lower will be the centers or pivots. Also, that whether the counterweights be light or heavy, the angle between 7, anda will increase as the angle between 9 and a increases and will decrease as the latter angle decreases.

In operation, as the towers are rocked from a vertical position, each cable 44 will elevate its counterweight and rock its sheave segments about their pivots and will be supported by the segment on that side toward which its tower is moved. The towers and the load thereon will be counterbalanced in all operating positions of the former. Where the segments arev located in connection with half the maximum live load in the bucket, the braking effort necessary'will be only that which is requisite to compensate for the difierence between half the maximum live load and the actual live load. The difference between .the effect of a circular support for the cable 44 and the theoretical spiral support in counter-balancing the parts is far less than the percentage of friction necessarily inherent inthe moving parts. Hence the towers will remain in any position to which they may be moved with a minimum of expenditure for locking.

. When each tower isin a vertical position, the cable 44% passes vertically between the sheaves and supports the entire mass of the counterweight. Among the important advantages secured by my means for counterweighting the towers and their load are the following: i

- ((4) Saving of towers.

(6) Ability to pivot the towers at their bases, eliminating weight in the towers and the provision of pits for their lower ends.

(0) Securing the full throw of the towers or booms with the use of lighttowers or booms.

(cl) Cheapness of installation.

(6) Wide range and flexibility of operation. A v

(f) The system is in balance irrespective of thepositions of the bucket on thecableway. The rocking cables 13 constitute a rotative synchronizing connection between the two towers, so that the effective weight of the towers and of the cable way, bucket, carriage and the predetermined proportion of live load may be accurately balanced irrespective of the distribution of the counterweight. F or instance, a single counter weight may be employed (with one tower), or the counterweight carried by one tower may be heavier or lighter than that carried by the other. as long as the total mass of the counterweight is sufiicient for the load to be counterbalanced.

F or convenience of description, the mempower for operating the bers 46 will be referred to hereinafter as sheaves, it being understood that, by the use of this term, I do not thereby limit myself to the particular shape of such membars as is shown herein, Furthermore, it will be evident that the counterweights employed and the location of the sheave pivots maybe such as to counterbalance not only the effective weight of the towers, cableway and load-handling device but any desired proportion of the live load. Also, if desired, a single counterweight may be employed with one only of such towers, in which case, the mass of the counterweight will be correspondingly increased; also that the term tower is employed in its broad sense herein and includes what is known in this art as a boom or derrick.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a tower supported for angular movement in a substantially vertical plane and means including a counterweight movable relatively to the tower for counterbalancing the tower in substantially all angular positions on both' sides of its vertical position.

2. The combination with a tower supported for angular movement in a substantially vertical plane and means including a counterweight movable relatively to the tower and a flexible connection between the tower and the counterweight for counterbalancing the tower in substantially all angular positions on both sides of its vertical position.

3. The combination with an angularly movable tower, of a counterweight, a flexible connection between the counterweight and the tower and means operative to determine the direction of pull of the flexible connection for varying angular positions of the'tower on both sides of its vertical position so as. to substantially counterbalance the latter in all of such positions.

l. The combination with an angularly movable tower, of a counterweight, a fiexible connection between the counterweight and the tower and means operative to determine the direction of pull of the flexible connection for varying angular positions of the tower on both sides of its vertical position so as to substantially counterbalance the latter in all of such positions. said means including elements having each a curved surface forming a bearing surface for the flexible connection.

5. The combination with an angularly iovable tower, of a counterweight, a flexible connection between the counterweight and the tower and pivoted elements having each a curved surface affording a bearing for the said flexible connection, said elements being positioned on opposite sides of the flexible connection and on opposide sides of the central vertical plane through the tower.

6. The combination with an angularly movable tower, of a counterweight, a flexible connection between the counterweight and the tower and pivotally supported segments affording a bearing for the flexible connection, said segments being positioned on opposite sides of the central vertical plane through the towers.

7 The combination with a pivotally supported tower, of a counterweight, a flexible connection between the counterweight and the top portion of the tower, an element pivotally mounted above the pivot point of the tower and affording a bearing for the flexible connection, the bearing surface of the element defining a curve substantially tangent to the central vertical plane through the tower.

8. The combination with apivotally supported tower, of a counterwelght, a flexible connection between the counterweight and the top portion of the tower, a segment pivotally mounted above the pivot point of the tower and affording a bearing for the fiexible connection, the segmental bearing surface being substantially tangent to the centrall vertical plane through the tower.

9. The combination with an angularly movable tower, of a counterweight, a, fiexible connection between the counterweight and the tower and two elements mounted upon opposite sides of the central vertical plane through the tower and having curved surfaces affording bearings for the said connection when the tower is disposed on one or the other side of said plane respectively.

10. The combination with an angularly movable tower, of a counterweight, a flexible connection between the counterweight and the tower, two segments pivotally supported upon opposite sides of the central vertical plane through the tower above the pivot point thereof, said segments being substantially tangent to said plane and affording bearing surfaces for the flexible connection.

11. The combination with an angularly movable tower, a counterweight movable in the general plane defined by the vertical position of the tower, a flexible connection between the upper portion of the tower and the counterweight, two segments pivotally supported above the counterweight and substantially tangent to the said plane at opposide sides thereof and means operative during movement of the said connection for moving the segments about their pivots in the direction of movement of the said connection.

12. The combination with a tower supported for angular movement in a substantially vertical plane, a counterweight move ble in the general plane defined by the vertimeans for moving the towers in unison, said means comprising a shaft revolubl'y mounted on each tower transversely of the direction of motion thereof, means for simub taneou-sly operating the shafts, circular tracks corresponding to the paths described by the shafts during the movement of the towers and means between the shafts and the said tracks for causing the towers to move when the shafts are revolved.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including a drum on each shaft and a cable wound about the drum and extending in opposite directions along the surface of the track to fixed anchoring points.

15. The combination with two angularly movable towers, a cable way extending be tween and supported by the towers and means for moving the towers in unison, said means comprising a drum on each tower, a

pair of cables running from a point in the central vertical plane through the towers and at one side thereof over sheaves in the upper part of the first tower to the drum of that tower and wound in opposite directions thereon, a pair of cables running from the same point over sheaves on the first tower and sheaves near the top of the second tower to the second drum and wound in og posite' directions thereon, means for simultaneously operating the cables and means for translating the motion of the drums for moving the towers.

165. The combination with two angularly movable towers, a cable way extending between and supported by the towers, a drum on each tower, cables forrevolving the said drums, means for translating the movement of the drums to move the towers and a power drum for operating the cables, the cables passing from the power drum over sheaves positioned in the central vertical plane of the towers and in a line passing through the pivot points of the towers, over sheaves near the top of the first tower, and one cable passing tothe drum on said first tower while the second cable passes over a sheave near the top of the second tower to the second drum.

l7. Apparatus'according to claim 16 including hold down cables anchored in a line passing through the pivot points of the towers and the cables coming from the power drum passing substantially through the anchoring point of one of the towers.

' 18. The combination with two angularly ,movable towers, a cable way between and supported by the towers, hold down cables anchored in points in alignment with the pivot points of the towers, a drum on each tower means co-operating with the drums for moving the towers, a power drum and cables passing from the power drum substantially through the anchoring point of one hold down cable and to the top of the tower held thereby, one cable passing to the drum of the first tower and the other cable passing to the top of the second tower and to the second drum.

19. The combination, with a pair of towers, "a cableway extending between and supported by said towers and a load-handling device on said cableway, of means connecting said towers-for rocking the same in unison, a vertically movable counterweight for each tower, a flexible connection between each tower and its counterweight, and a sheave pivoted on each side of each tower pivot and above the same and adapted tobe engaged by said connection as its tower is rocked to one side or the other of a vertical position.

20. The combination, with a pair of towers, a cableway extending between and supported thereby and a load-handing device on said cableway, of means connecting said towers for rocking the same in unison, a vertically movable counterweight for one at least of said towers, aflexible connection between such tower or towers and such counterweight or counterweights, and a pair of supports for each connection and adapted to be engaged by such connection when its tower is moved to one side or the other from a vertical position, the said supports being so arranged that the weight of the towers, cableway, load-handling device and a definite proportion of the live load will be counterbalanced in all angular positions of said towers.

21. The combination, with a pair of towers, a cableway extending between and supported by said towers, and a loadhandling device movable along said cableway, of a counterweight movable with respect to at least one of said towers, means connecting said towers for rocking the same in unison, and means connecting each such counterweight and its tower whereby the tower-lifting effort of the counterweight will vary with the angular movements of the towers from the vertical about their centers of rotation.

22. The combination, with a pair of towers, a cableway extending between and supported thereby and a load-handling device on said cableway, of a movable counterweight for each tower, means connecting said towers for rocking the same in unison, and means connecting each counterweight and its tower whereby the said towers, cableway, load-handling device and a definite proportion of the load carried by said device will be counterbalanced in varying angular positions of said towers and in varying positions of the load-handling device on the cableway.

23. The combination, with a pair of towers, a cableway extending between and supported by said towers, and a load-handling device movable along said cableway, of a counterweight movable with respect to at least one of said towers, means connecting Said towers for rocking the same in unison, a connection between each such counterweight and the upper portion of its tower and guiding and supporting means co-operating with each such connection for varying the angle at which the counterweight operates upon the tower in accordance with the movement of the latter from a vertical position.

24. The combination, with a pair of towers, a cableway extending between and supported by said towers, and a load handling device on said cableway, of means for rocking said towers, a Vertically movable counterweight for each tower, a-flexible connection between each tower and its counterweight and a sheave pivoted on each side of each tower pivot and above the same and adapted to be engaged by said connection as its tower is rocked to one side or the other of a vertical position.

25. The combination, with a pair of towers each having a pivot at the lower end thereof, a cableway extending between and supported by said towers and a load handling device on said cableway,'of a vertically movable counterweight for each tower, a flexible connection between each counterweight and the upper portion of each tower, a pair of sheaves for each tower, the pivots for such sheaves being located on opposite sides of the connection for their tower and each adapted to be engaged by such connection as their tower is rocked to one side or the other of a vertical position, and means connecting the sheaves of each pair whereby the rocking of one sheave by the said connection will cause the rocking of the other sheave.

26. Thecombination, with a pair of towers, a cableway extending between and sup ported thereby and a load-handling device on said cableway, of means for rocking said towers in unison, a vertically movable counterweight for each tower, a flexible connection between each tower'and its counterweight, and a pair of supports for each connection, and adapted to be engaged by such connection when its tower is moved to one side or the other from a vertical. position, the said supports being so arranged that the weight of the towers, cableway, load-handling device and a definite proportion of the live load will be counterbalanced in all angular positions of said towers.

27. The combination, with a pair of towers, a cable way extending between and supported thereby and a load handling device on said cableway, of a movable counterweight for each tower, and means connecting each counterweight and its tower whereby the said towers, cableway, load-handling device and definite proportion of the load carried by said device will be counterbalanced in varying angular positions of said towers.

28. The combination, with a tower and a pivot therefor, of a drum carried by said tower, a segmental guide, a pair of cables each onnected at one end. to said drum and extending in opposite directions therefrom over the adjacent surface of said guide and having their opposite ends anchored, and means for rotating said drum in opposite directions.

29. The combination with a tower and a pivot therefor of. a shaft supported by said tower, a drum on saidshaft, a segmental guide adjacent to said drum, :1 pair of cables each connected. at one end-to said drum and extending in opposite directions therefrom and over the adjacent surface of said guide and having their opposite ends anchored, a gear on said shaft, a second shaft supported by said tower, a drum on said second shaft and a gear on such. shaft meshing with the first mentioned gear, and means for driving the second drum. 1

30. The combination, with a pair of tow ers, a cableway extending between and supported thereby and a load-handling device on said cableway, of a pivot for each tower, a pivot at one side of each tower and in line with the first mentionedv pivots, a carriage on each of the second mentioned pivots, a guy connecting each carriage with. the upper portion of a tower, and means for rocking the towers about their pivots.

81. The. combination, with a pair of towers, a cable way extending between said towers and a load handlizngv device on. said cableway, of. pivot for each tower, a pivot on. one side of. each tower and in line with the first mentioned pivots, a carriage on each of the second mentioned: pivots, a guy connecting each carriage with the upper portion of a tower, sheaves on one of said carriages, cables extending over said sheaves to the upper. portion of one of said towers, a pintle. extending. substantially parallel with the portions of said cables extending from. said sheaves, a sheave support jour naled on saidpintle, sheaves- Ons'aid support for said cables, and connections between said cables and said device.

32. The combination, with I a pair of towers, of an upwardly and inwardly inclined pintle adjacent the upper end of each tower, a cableway support j ournaled on each pintle, a sheave supportjournaledon each pintle, a load handling device movable along said cableway, cables extending about said sheaves and connected with said device, and means for rocking said towers.

33. A loadhandling system comprising two angularly movable towers, a cableway between and supported by the towers, means for moving the towers in unison, and means for counterbalancing the system in the dif ferent angular positions on both sides of a vertical plane, said means including a weight movably connected to one of the towers.

34:. A load handlingv system comprising two ang'ularly movable: towers, a cableway between and supported by the towers, means for moving the towers in unison, and means for counterbalancing the system in the dif ferent angular positions on both sides of a vertical plane, said means including a weight movably connected to each of the towers.

85. A load-handling system comprising twoangularly movable towers, a cableway between and supported by the towers, means for moving the towers in unison, and means for counterbalancing the system in the different angular positions on both sides of a verticalplane, said-means including a weight mounted for vertical movement adjacent one of the towers, flexible means for connecting the weight to the upper part of the tower and a guiding support for the connecting means intermediate the weight and the tower. 1 i Y i 36. vApparatusaccording to claim 35 in which the guiding support includes two curved members disposed on oppositesides of the plane passing through the center of the towers when in vertical position" 37. Apparatus according to claim 36 in which the'curvatures of the members are substantially tangent to the said plane 38. Apparatus according to claim 36 in which the members arepivotally mounted;

39. The combination with tower and means for rocking the same, of loadhandling device supported by said tower, a movable counterweight, and means connecting said tower and counterweight wherebv the tower and its load-handling device will be counterbalanced in varying angular positions of the tower and on opposite sides of avertical position.

. 40. Theicomb'nation with a tower,a loadhandling device supported thereby and means for rocking said tower, of. a movable counterweight, and means connecting said counterweight and tower, whereby the tower-lifting effort of the counterweight will vary with the angular movement of the tower from the vertical about its center of rotation and on both sides of such center.

41. The combination with a tower and a load-handling device supported thereby, of means for rocking said tower, a movable counterweight, a flexible connection between said tower and counterweight, and means located on each side of said connection and 10 adapted to be engaged thereby whereby the counterweight will be raised by the movement of the tower from a vertical position and the angle between said connection and said tower will vary in accordance with the angular movement of the tower from such vertical position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

NORMAN T. HARRINGTON. 

